Study shows divorce can be deadly
A new German study shows that people who divorce die years sooner than others, putting them in company with smokers, the homeless, and the poorly educated.
Divorced people on average have a life span nine years shorter than others, according to the study by Rostock University’s centre for demographic research released this week.
“We assume that being divorced strongly influences lifestyle,” study contributor Gabriele Doblhammer told daily paper Der Tagesspiegel on Wednesday. “Married people seem to have a more regulated lifestyle than singles, and the divorced embody a combination of factors that can lead to an earlier death.”
The study, which reviewed the influence of social behaviors and conditions on the life expectancies of 50-year-old Germans, found that on average, men can expect to reach 77-years-old, and women 82.3-years-old.
Researchers chose to study 50-year-old subjects because they have “already experienced a lot and adopted behaviors that have an influence on death risks,” Doblhammer told the paper.
People found to have the highest life expectancy were non-smokers, moderate drinkers, married, high-school educated and employed. Females from this group also had one to two children.
Comments
See Also
Divorced people on average have a life span nine years shorter than others, according to the study by Rostock University’s centre for demographic research released this week.
“We assume that being divorced strongly influences lifestyle,” study contributor Gabriele Doblhammer told daily paper Der Tagesspiegel on Wednesday. “Married people seem to have a more regulated lifestyle than singles, and the divorced embody a combination of factors that can lead to an earlier death.”
The study, which reviewed the influence of social behaviors and conditions on the life expectancies of 50-year-old Germans, found that on average, men can expect to reach 77-years-old, and women 82.3-years-old.
Researchers chose to study 50-year-old subjects because they have “already experienced a lot and adopted behaviors that have an influence on death risks,” Doblhammer told the paper.
People found to have the highest life expectancy were non-smokers, moderate drinkers, married, high-school educated and employed. Females from this group also had one to two children.
Join the conversation in our comments section below. Share your own views and experience and if you have a question or suggestion for our journalists then email us at [email protected].
Please keep comments civil, constructive and on topic – and make sure to read our terms of use before getting involved.
Please log in here to leave a comment.